Harry Bronson has been serving in the New York State Assembly since 2010, where he represents the diverse 138th district, which includes several neighborhoods in the City of Rochester, the suburban town of Henrietta, and the rural villages of Churchville and Riga.

Fighting for social justice, labor reforms, fair wages, health care access, LGBTQ+ protections, equality, and fairness have been a lifelong endeavor. He currently serves as chair of the Assembly Labor Committee where he is dedicated to increasing worker protection and rights, workplace safety, and making sure we have an economy that works for everyone.

Bronson previously served as chair of the Assembly Committee for Economic Development, Job Creation, Commerce, and Industry, where he prioritized increasing equity in our workforce and ensuring our investments in economic development are complemented by investments in workforce development so our emerging and expanding industries can access skilled workers and our families have greater opportunity for middle-class jobs with family-sustaining wages.

As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, he is committed to equality for all people, which informs his professional and legislative priorities. Harry’s work embraces and promotes the simple principle that all human beings have dignity and, “No matter who you are, where you come from, what you look like, what your abilities, whom you love, or how you identify—we all have dignity and deserve equity, justice, and opportunity.”

John B. King, Jr. is the 15^th Chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), the largest comprehensive system of public higher education in the United States.

Prior to his appointment as Chancellor, King served as president of The Education Trust. This national civil rights non-profit seeks to identify and close opportunity and achievement gaps for students from preschool through college.

Chancellor King served in President Obama’s cabinet as the 10^th US Secretary of Education. Upon tapping him to lead the US Department of Education, President Obama called King “an exceptionally talented educator,” citing his commitment to “preparing every child for success,” and his lifelong dedication to public education as a teacher, principal, and leader of schools and school systems.

Before his appointment as secretary of education, Chancellor King fulfilled the duties of deputy secretary of education, overseeing all policies and programs related to P-12 education, English learners, special education, and innovation.

His service in Washington, DC, followed King’s tenure as New York State’s first African American and first Puerto Rican education commissioner. In this role, Chancellor King oversaw all elementary and secondary schools, as well as public, independent, and proprietary colleges and universities, professional licensure, libraries, museums, and numerous other educational institutions.

Chancellor King holds a bachelor of arts in government from Harvard University; a JD from Yale Law School; a master of arts in teaching of social studies, and a doctorate in education from Teachers College at Columbia University.

You can follow Chancellor King on Twitter at @JohnBKing.

Robert Megna is president of the Rockefeller Institute of Government. He previously served as senior vice chancellor and chief operating officer of SUNY System Administration. In that role, he oversaw the operations of the chief information officer, the State University of New York (SUNY) Plaza business functions, capital facilities, campus energy management, and the Charter School Institute. He joined SUNY System Administration from Stony Brook University, where he served as senior vice president for finance and administration. Prior to joining Stony Brook, he served as executive director of the New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Canal Corporation.

Megna served as budget director for the New York State Division of the Budget (DOB), during which time the state achieved its highest financial rating in 40 years from three major credit rating agencies and passed four on-time budgets for the first time since the 1970s. He also chaired multiple governmental boards, including the Financial Restructuring Board, the New York Racing Association, and the Public Authorities Control Board. Megna has also served as commissioner for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, director of the revenue and economics unit at DOB, assistant commissioner of the office of tax policy at the Virginia Department of Taxation, director of tax studies at the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, and deputy director of fiscal studies on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee.

Megna earned an MS in economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science at the University of London and received both his BA in Economics and MPA from Fordham University.

Merideth Andreucci is the assistant director of economic development at the New York Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA). She provides a broad range of economic development, external partnership-building, and business development for NYSERDA. She works closely with the state and regional economic development stakeholders to develop and promote New York’s position as a premier location for clean energy manufacturing. Prior to joining NYSERDA, Andreucci held economic development positions at Rochester Institute of Technology’s Golisano Institute for Sustainability and Empire State Development, focusing on advanced and sustainable manufacturing. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in political science from the State University of New York at Albany and a master’s degree in environmental management and policy from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Christopher Borst, PhD, is vice president for 300mm Technology and Operations at NY CREATES. He directs a team of more than 300 operations and engineering staff at Albany Nanotech’s advanced fab facilities, is the principal investigator for the IBM AI Hardware Center and Tokyo Electron TTCA contracts, and supports the Applied Materials META Center operations. In his position, Borst is involved in the strategic engagement of partners to prototype manufacturable products at Albany Nanotech. He also supports SUNY faculty initiatives leveraging the Albany fab facility and is mentoring two PhD students.

Borst has more than 20 years of experience in the industry, beginning in 2001 with Texas Instruments as a process development engineer. He has been at Albany Nanotech since 2006. Borst has specialized in technology development and transfer to manufacturing, production scale-up, and foundry partner interactions. He is the author or co-author of more than 45 journal articles and conference papers and one academic book.

Sarah DeShaw focuses on workforce development and community outreach at BETA Technologies, a Vermont-based aerospace company developing all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. At BETA, DeShaw is responsible for focusing efforts on building concrete, skill-based workforce development initiatives. These programs emphasize engaging students early to spark their interest in trades and STEAM education. DeShaw’s coordination of BETA’s internship program, High School Job Shadow Experience, school engagement initiatives, and apprenticeship opportunities support BETA’s commitment to developing the next-generation workforce and creating high-paying, green jobs.

Asantewa K. Holley is the director of operations for Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC). NWTC is New York State’s signature workforce initiative under the Buffalo Billion initiative. Northland Workforce Training Center is an industry-driven, public-private partnership between employers, educational institutions, community and faith-based organizations, and state and local government. NWTC focuses on closing the skills gap of the local labor pool and creating economic on-ramps to training, co-ops, internships, apprenticeships, and permanent employment for Western New Yorkers seeking high-paying advanced manufacturing and energy careers.

Holley has worked in the financial industry for eighteen years, holding multiple operational management roles. In addition, Holley serves as an adjunct instructor at the University at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Center. Holley holds an MBA from the University at Buffalo and a BS in accounting from Empire State College. She is a 2020 graduate of Leadership Buffalo and a 2023 New York Association of Training and Employment (NYATEP) Workforce Academy graduate.

Holley serves as a board member for House Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) and the Michigan Street Preservation Corporation – Nash House, and as a trustee at True Bethel Baptist Church. Holley is a member of the National Black MBA Association, WNY Chapter. Holley has won several awards, including Business First 40 under 40 and the Buffalo Black Achiever Award.

Steve Hyde, MBA, is the president and chief executive officer of the Genesee County Economic Development Center (GCEDC), leading the economic development activity for Genesee County, NY, within the Buffalo-Rochester Tech Corridor. Hyde has extensive private sector experience in sales, business development, marketing, and finance focused on building and growing enterprises in the information technology and medical device sectors.

In 20 years at GCEDC, Hyde has leveraged his private sector experience to develop eight industry-focused shovel-ready industrial parks and workforce solutions. He also provides project-based structured finance and incentives that have assisted over 500 economic development projects investing over $2 billion and creating over 5,000 jobs. He has been laser-focused on the strategic goal of bringing manufacturing back to Upstate New York. A highlight of Hyde’s work is the successful development of the 250-acre Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park along with the 1,250-acre Science, Technology & Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP) Green Manufacturing Mega-Site. The STAMP site has attracted more than $600 million in investment and nearly 700 good-paying jobs through sizable investment commitments from Edwards Semiconductor and Plug Power.

Hyde’s leadership has positioned Genesee County and the Batavia micropolitan area to rank as a top-10 fastest-growing micropolitan community in the United States for 19 consecutive years as ranked by Site Selection Magazine.

Hyde is a graduate of Genesee Community College, Cornell University, and Rochester Institute of Technology. He sits on several boards, including the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council and the boards of Greater Rochester Enterprise and Invest Buffalo Niagara. He has previously served as chairman of the NYSEDC.

Harold King is the president of the Council of Industry of Southeastern New York, an association of 155 Hudson Valley manufacturing firms that employ more than 16,000 people. Founded in 1910, the Council of Industry’s mission is to promote the success of its members’ firms and their employees. The Council accomplishes this mission through various programs and services, including public policy advocacy, management and employee training and education, professional networking, workforce development, and group purchase discounts on essential products and services. King has served as executive vice president of the Council since 1991.

Prior to joining the Council of Industry, King worked as an economic development specialist with The Dutchess County Economic Development Corporation and as campaign director for the United Way of Ulster County. King has a bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College, a master’s degree in public administration from the University at Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy, and a master’s degree in business administration from SUNY New Paltz. He is the vice chair of the Manufacturers Alliance of New York State and a Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council voting member. King is a past member of the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Board of Directors and served as vice chairman of NAM’s Affiliate Organizations Board. He resides in New Paltz with his wife, Amy.

Matthew A. Mroz oversees industry relations, partnerships, new and joint ventures, technology transfer, affiliated corporations, intellectual property, and industry risk management and policy for The Research Foundation (RF) for SUNY and is responsible for growing the RF’s reach and reputation for excellence through strong, strategic relationships across SUNY and with businesses, associations, and government organizations.

Over a distinguished 15-year career at the RF, Mroz has integrated the organization’s technology transfer and business development function into the operations of 27 campuses. He has implemented and managed enterprise-wide programs that advance the marketability of SUNY innovation, protect SUNY intellectual property, and connect SUNY-affiliated companies and entrepreneurs to resources necessary for growth and success. As managing director of SUNY’s Technology Accelerator Fund—a proof-of-concept investment fund that has invested over $3 million since its inception in 2011 and has catalyzed a return of over $16 million—Mroz and his team facilitate early-stage development of SUNY-affiliated startups.

An active leader and collaborator in technology commercialization and economic growth across New York State, Mroz serves on the boards of the Central New York Biotechnology Accelerator, Downstate Biotechnology Incubator, and BioBAT, and is a member of the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) and the Licensing Executives Society. He is a graduate of Stony Brook University, Albany Law School, and the University at Albany.

Trish Nilsen serves as president and chief executive officer for Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) and New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG). Nilsen has held various positions within NYSEG and RG&E since she joined the company in 1992. Most recently, she served as Avangrid Networks’ vice president for reliability assurance and emergency preparedness, which included electric and natural gas emergency event response, and as a COVID liaison for the business. Her prior experience in these companies was serving in communications, customer service, public affairs, and human resources capacities. Nilsen received a bachelor of science from Alfred University and a master of arts from Syracuse University and from Elmira College.

Shelby Schneider is the deputy director of the New York State Economic Development Council. Schneider has over 20 years of experience working in economic development in Saratoga County. In her most recent role, she served as the president and CEO of the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, leading critical economic and workforce development initiatives across public and private sectors and driving economic success for residents, businesses, and government in Saratoga County, New York.

She worked extensively with Saratoga County employers and start-ups to assist with business expansion strategies. She spent over two and a half years managing national marketing for a craft brewery. Schneider worked with the New York State Brewers Association and National Brewers Association, where she advocated for the industry in Washington and Albany. During that time, she led the creation of a Brewers Training Certificate Program in collaboration with regional breweries, regional workforce investment boards, and Schenectady County Community College to meet the growing need for a trained workforce in the craft beverage industry.

Schneider has extensive experience promoting Saratoga County and business assets to the global semiconductor and clean-tech industries. She spearheaded public relations campaigns, which helped garner international and national media exposure for Saratoga County from The Economist, The Christian Science Monitor, ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, the Huffington Post, and others. Schneider was recognized as one of Saratoga Today’s 2020 Women of Influence, the Capital Region Business Review’s 40 under Forty, and 40 under 40 Rising Stars in Economic Development by Development Counsellors International in 2013.

She earned her BS in management and business administration from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York, and is a Leadership Saratoga Alumni.

Kristin Sine-Kinz, MBA, is a strategic marketer and chief of staff with Monroe Community College (MCC). Much of her 11 years at MCC has been spent entrenched in learning and program development in the local advanced manufacturing sector. Sine-Kinz has over 25 years of diverse professional experience, including a year as the interim vice president for the Economic and Workforce Development and Career Technical Education department at Monroe Community College. Prior to joining Monroe Community College, Sine-Kinz spent much of her career working in marketing firms, specializing in B2B marketing. Sine-Kinz earned a master of business administration degree from Western Governor’s University and a bachelor of fine arts degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

Molly Tocin is the chief of staff & corporate development at the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), a nationally recognized, leading nonprofit membership organization in workforce development. She continues to grow corporate organizational engagement in membership, fundraising, and training capacities. Tocin has had a successful career in action as she has continually raised funds for three leading capital region organizations and municipalities.

Throughout her career, Tocin has raised funds for educational workforce development in the arts for Proctors Collaborative, large-scale free public concert series for the City of Albany Special Events department, and pushed heart and brain health through advocacy with the American Heart Association. She has continuously worked with local and national organizations to raise awareness and highlight essential causes that affect many!

Tocin is a graduate of SUNY Albany with a degree in history and a minor in education, as well as a wife and mom of two strong and independent little ladies.

Joel Wood joined the North Country Chamber of Commerce as the director of the North American Center of Excellence for Transportation Equipment (NAmTrans) in July 2019. Wood is directly responsible for all programs and services of NAmTrans, a North Country Chamber subsidiary dedicated to supporting and growing the region’s 55+ companies within the Transportation Equipment and Aerospace Cluster. In addition to other responsibilities, Wood assists with Chamber economic development activities, including building and strengthening Quebec-New York partnerships.

In November 2021, Wood was named part of the management team at the Chamber and assumed the role of vice president for strategic initiatives. Key new responsibilities in this role include assisting the chamber president with government affairs.

Prior to joining the Chamber, Wood served as regional director for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, coordinating the congresswoman’s Federal Grants and Domestic Assistance program and overseeing the constituent service program, among other responsibilities. He also served as a project implementation assistant for the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) in the City of Plattsburgh. Wood holds a BA in economics and political science from SUNY Plattsburgh.

Kevin Younis is the chief operating officer and executive deputy commissioner at Empire State Development (ESD), New York’s economic development agency. In this role, he provides leadership and oversight for critical ESD operational and programmatic functions. He is extensively involved in promoting the state’s long-term economic development goals and objectives, focusing on business development, particularly corporate retention, expansion, and relocation, and ensuring that the state’s economic development efforts benefit all New Yorkers.

Younis has more than 25 years of experience in the public sector, focused primarily on economic development policy and operations, and has been with ESD since 2007. More recently, Younis has also led the state’s efforts to strengthen and grow the semiconductor industry in New York State.

Prior to his work in government, Younis taught English in Taiwan and worked with a youth public service program in Syracuse. He holds a certificate from Harvard University, an MPA from the University at Albany’s Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland.

A native of Syracuse and lifelong New Yorker, Younis lives in Albany with his wife Erin and daughter Eleanor.